Chapter 7

I got into work earlier than ever the next day, no sign of anyone anywhere. I logged into my computer, no, nothing. I checked the time and the lack of activity wasn't surprising considering it was 7am.

I headed out to the coffee shop, Leah was there, happy as always. My heart jumped a little knowing there was at least one person happy to see me.

"Hey there, you weren't kidding about bright and early Edward! The usual?" Leah instantly brightened up my morning.

"Yeah, please I need some help waking up this morning" I replied watching her as she set about the coffee machine with graceful, fluid movements.

I leaned against the end of the bar head resting on my hand "So Leah, tell me, what do you do when you're not making coffees for sleep deprived office workers" I said, again appreciating her physical features and longing for some conversation which didn't involve work.

"Not much to be honest Edward, I'm a pretty simple girl. Not much for modern entertainment and the like" she replied

"Huh, and that means?" I said half asleep

"Well, if you really want to know I'll tell you but you must promise not to laugh, OK?" I nodded wearily but my interest piqued slightly

"During the week, I really don't do much other than sleep, I work a lot and no boyfriend" she replied "At the weekends, I usually head out to a forest and camp, going fishing, and I go shooting with my dad sometimes too"

"You do what?" I stared at her openly

"I told you not to laugh and you're not, so credit to you, most guys do, especially because of this" she pointed at her face

"What? Sorry I'm still half asleep, you'll need to explain"

"What's the politically correct phase? Because of my ethnic origin, being Native American breeds a stereotype, guys especially tend to think Pocahontas when I tell them what I do when I'm not 'making coffee for sleep deprived office workers'" she turned away

"Ummm... actually, I think that's pretty cool" I said still slightly stunned, most woman would look the way she did couldn't be more than two meters away from their hairdryer or make up bags.

"What? Are you taking the piss?" I realised she was looking directly back at me

"What? No! Not at all, I do the same" I blurted out the muddled half answer. "I mean I enjoy the same stuff, in fact I'm heading to Canada for the next couple of weeks to hike through British Columbia"

"You'd better not be taking the piss or I'll spit in your coffee for as long as you keep coming here" she said warily

"Well, you won't see me for two weeks and I've been here most days for the last few years, so you make up your own mind" I retorted

She brought my coffee over and handed it to me. Her finger brushing my hand gently "We'll see" she said seemingly placated at my verbal outpouring. "We'll see" she turned away as I realised suddenly that the coffee shop was actually busy. I don't know how I missed it, but I'd been focused on Leah.

"I'd better head back into the office, I'll see you later, maybe lunch" I said feebly and walked, embarrassed, again, to the door.

"I hope so" she called waving, the smile returned to her face.

I shot back to the office, the coincidence too much for my fried brain to handle and sat heavily at my desk. The office, like the coffee shop had sprung to life, most people were in and making noise as my thoughts drifted around what I can certainly call the weirdest three weeks of my life.

I had a new e-mail, it was from Jaz, I didn't immediately realise what it was about, it took a moment to sink in, Alice! I opened the note eagerly it read it:

Dude,

You're on your own with this one, no can help, not touching it with a barge pole.

Sorry

Shit, fuck and bollocks. Some mate he was...

The morning dragged badly, I managed to catch Alice near the water vendor and apologised profusely for upsetting her. She didn't give anything away about what prompted the hostility yesterday so I was still none the wiser. On the positive side, she had seemed to have returned to her bubbly self or close to it.

Bella was back in the office today, her hair was down, curling neatly around her face, again hiding it away from me. Other than Jaz and Alice she was the only one who might know what had happened yesterday. I tried to corner a few times but due to Alice's work interventions I wasn't able to say more than hi in private.

What a shitty day, after the fourth attempt at speaking to Bella and Alice's pounces to speak to me about 'something important' I gave up and stalked outside in frustration. I wound my way around to the smoking area lighting up and dragging on the cigarette deeply. I felt light headed and realised that this was my first one in at least two days. That lifted my mood a bit, the lift was doubled as I saw Seth standing puffing away. I walked faster, anxious to see a friendly face.

"Hey Seth, how are you mate?" I asked happier than I had been all day.

"Wow, the wanderer returns, I thought you'd died!" Seth looked at me in a strange way "I hear you're having some people problems" he smiled not unkindly

"I am?" My thoughts immediately turned to not just Bella but weirdly, Leah as well.

"Yeah, that's the rumour anyway. Another one is that Jacob is trying to move in on your territory, some high performing new start and that Alice is protecting her and you don't even seem to notice or give a shit, probably bullshit, you'd know, you always do!" Seth laughed.

I wasn't so sure anymore, I'd need to speak to Alice, soon. "Where'd you here all this, you obviously know more than me!"

"Ha, that's where it falls down, Jacob told me, he's always telling his stories, you know what he's like. I pretty much forget everything he says" Seth answered. I managed a small laugh

"Just don't tell him I told you, he's ultra weird about his team as you know, tries to treat us all like were his best friends, mostly we just do what we're told coz he's the boss. Your lot are different, wish I worked for you, you're alright Cullen!" Seth grinned

I did like Seth, he was a breath of fresh air, if he wasn't so close to Jacob I'd have told him what was going on, in fact, with this lot he'd be my best friend! Jaz was out of the role at the moment because he was too close to Alice and refused to help me out. I was alone with this.

I walked Seth back up, making sure that Jacob saw us talking and laughing. It was only to piss him off. As I walked away from Seth's desk he was walking toward it, obviously after the scoop, any scoop. I felt bad for Seth, he didn't deserve in masked grilling he was no doubt about to get. On the other hand Jacob was obviously annoyed at our chat, as he came closer I smiled at him, a very wide smile, one which hinted that I knew something he didn't want me too. "Cullen" and a nod was all I got as he passed making a beeline for Seth. I made a mental note to make it up to him.

I made my way back to my desk and sat down heavily. Bella appeared out of nowhere. "Umm.. Hi" she started. This was all I needed, some pointless menial shit, no doubt raised to me because Alice wasn't another desk. I remembered myself promise from the previous night and smiled. Be nice Edward.

"Hi Bella, how are you? Grab a seat and tell me what can I do for you?" I found it easier to be nice to her than I thought.

She looked embarrassed as she pulled over one of my meeting chairs. I leaned a little closer to show I was attentive, open and engaged in what she needed. "Umm... I just wanted to apologise for Alice's outburst yesterday, it's difficult to explain" my interest piqued slightly, although I realised she'd never tell me what happened so I decided to continue with my 'be nice to Bella plan'

"Hey, listen, don't worry about it, ok, that was between me and Alice, we've know each other for years. I'm not upset or worried about it" I lied "just forget about it, no harm, no foul" I intoned smiling. Making light of the problem.

I was expecting a look of relief on her face but there was no change in her expression. I didn't want to push the subject and I was feeling slightly uncomfortable being this close to her after everything I'd been thinking. I realised suddenly that I was being unfair, I was being and arsehole, Bella was nice and I decided on a new course of action.

"Bella" I started "I think we got off on the wrong foot and I haven't been as nice to you as I should have been. I apologise for that. Do you think we could start again?" This felt good, it felt like I was lancing a wound that had been suppurating for weeks. I was a complete fool for not thinking of this earlier. Bella's face did change after my comment although still not relief, she looked flustered, almost embarrassed. I must have been a real fucking wanker to her.

She smiled timidly "umm... Yeah I guess so" her head went down again, sigh, this making up would take a while.

"Listen" I said, trying to push the friendliness further "I've been reviewing your work recently and it's obvious Alice thinks highly of you, I wanted to say well done. You should be proud of yourself, it's not always easy to come into an established team and perform as well as you are doing, keep it up" she nodded with an embarrassed smile and a blush that brought a beautiful tinge to her cheeks, highlighting her high cheek bones and perfect facial structure. All of a sudden her perfume hit me like a wrecking ball and my heart skipped a beat, it must be shear relief at sorting this out!

"You're a credit to the team, Bella and I'm proud to have you on board and if I haven't said it before, well, I was being an arse" I continued happier than I had been for weeks.

"Thanks Edward, it really means a lot to me" she finally looked relieved and genuinely happy.

"Hold on a moment" I said as she started to get up, I put a hand out to stop her, brushing her bare forearm with my finger tips. It felt like a buzz ran through my hand as the hairs on my arm stood on end, I noticed a slight shudder run through Bella. I realised that had been it first time I had intentionally touched her. I moved my hand quickly away noticing the blush on her face was matching the one I knew I had on my own.

"Sorry!" I said quickly not wanting to ruin the progress I'd made in the last few minutes "I just wanted to say not to worry about yesterday, sorry"

Bella's reply was a bright smile, the first one she'd ever sent my way, I'd have remembered that look if she'd ever done it before. She looked gorgeous. You're at work dickhead I scolded myself. I flashed my most endearing crooked smile at her.

"Thank you Edward, very much" she smiled again and walked slowly to her desk rubbing her arm gently.

Well, fuck me, that was easier than I thought...